Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells. It is synonymous with "myeloma" and "plasma cell myeloma." Plasma cells make antibodies against infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called “multiple” because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone marrow where it grows.

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A Strange and Blessed Experience

Post date

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 - 17:35

This #MyelomaVoices story was submitted on February 24, 2017 by S. Lin.

In late 2013, my finding of having myeloma came as a strange and blessed experience—starting with an annual checkup. My general physician saw the blood test result and suggested that I might have an enlarged liver. After few more tests to focus on the liver issue from different angle. One reading from the test result brings to my attention (the IgG reading 6000). An unplanned chatting with my sister-in-law who happens to be a lab technician flagged me this got to be cancerous sign.

Luckily, this is not a later stage. This act of God truly saved me precious time for seeking measures for defense. I was still working while receiving treatment. The fatigue I encountered made it harder and harder to handle physical demands from work. This process went on for 7 months.

In early 2015, I went home for recovery and faced a different life pattern without jogging and a mostly vegetarian diet. I received great assist[ance] from the San Francisco Bay Area Myeloma Support Group. This group equips me with very useful knowledge dealing with the myeloma. Last week, a friend of mine told me his older brother was diagnosed with myeloma. I was so happy that I had so much information I can offer. Female singer Olivia Newton-John once said: “Everything, there is a reason. Everything can be a lesson.”

**The opinions expressed in this story are solely of the patient S. Lin.